Lithuania has announced that it will be sending 14 M113 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine to support the country’s demining efforts. The move aims to enhance the demining capabilities of the Ukrainian army and is part of Lithuania’s contribution to the Demining Coalition led by Iceland.
The U.S.-built vehicles are expected to arrive in Ukraine this week. This assistance comes at a crucial time as nearly a third of Ukraine’s territory has been mined since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. The presence of mines has hindered Ukrainian counteroffensives and led to civilian casualties.
Russia, which had the world’s largest stockpile of landmines at the start of the invasion, continues to pose a threat to Ukraine’s security. In a recent development, Ukraine claimed to have damaged Russia’s Su-57 fighter jets, highlighting the ongoing military tensions in the region.